Filling control mechanism

ABSTRACT

A filling mechanism for shuttleless looms having a control unit and a mechanism functioning in cooperation therewith for supporting and guiding at least two filling yarns from separate sources of supply and which are individually selectable in accordance with a desired pattern for presentation into the warp sheds by the filling inserting means.

United States Patent l l RH I Inventor Anthony J. Tosches Milford, Mass.

App]. No. 838,939

Filed July 3, 1969 Patented July 20, 1971 Assignee North AmericanRockwell Corporation Pittsburgh Pa.

FILLING CONTROL MECHANISM 5 Claims, 5 Drawing Figs.

US. Cl 139/122W Int. Cl 003d 47/38 Field of Search 66/125; 139/ l22-1275 63 Gt 6 I ia G'l Q-w In; :4 I; Z '9 Z r F l3' 33 i wll PrimaryExaminer-l-lenry S. .laudon Att0rney.l0hn R. Bronaugh ABSTRACT: Afilling mechanism for shuttleless looms having a control unit and amechanism functioning in cooperation therewith for supporting andguiding at least two filling yarns from separate sources of supply andwhich are individually selectable in accordance with a desired patternfor presentation into the warp sheds by the filling inserting means.

l m l l 14 li j I y 61 32 SELEC 'lVE CONTROL UNIT PATfiNTEnJuLzolsn3,593,754

sum 1 0r 3 SELECT NE CONTROL U N IT BQYM 0W ATTORNEY PATENTED JUL20 IanSHEET 2 BF 3 HNVENTOR ANTHONYKITOSCHES ATTORNEY ATENTEU JUL 20 IQTI sum3 BF 3 INVENTOR ANTHONY J. TOSCHES ATTORNEY FILLING CONTROL MECHANISMBACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The invention pertains to shuttleless loomsof the type wherein filling yarn in the form of hairpins orinterconnected pairs of picks is inserted into separate sheds of warpthreads as shown and described in U.S. Pat. No. 2,654,399.

In the weaving of particular types of fabric, it is desirable to mix thefilling yarns by drawing them from separate sources of supply so as todistribute variations therein and give said fabric a uniform overallappearance. By mixing filling yarns from different sources ofsupplypatterning effects can be had by utilizing filling yarns of a differentcolor to form stripes, for example, and is accomplished by selecting onecolor for a given number of picks and subsequently selecting a secondand then a third and so on. A striped warp in combination with themixing of colored filling increases the patterning possibilitiessubstantially by providing unlimited plaid and check pattern effects.

Filling control mechanisms for shuttleless looms are shown and describedin US. Pat. Nos. 3,323,556 and 3,409,053 to T. S. Higgins et al. as wellas Ser. No. 633,183 to R.H. Brownand each discloses a means for mixingfilling yarn bydrawing them from separate sources of supply.

In the Higgins et al. patents an indexing head isutilized to carry theyarns and by means of the dictates of a selective control unit the headis rotated to move a selected yarn to a position to become active andinserted into the warp shed.

In the Brown patent a similar control unit is adapted to act uponpivotable arms having cooperating camming elements which when selectedare caused to act upon a pivotable yarn positioner and guide leverindividual thereto to swing the filling yarn carried by the latter intoactive position.

The Higgins filling control devices have performed their intendedfunctions satisfactorily; however the complexity thereof and the manycomponents required have left something to be desired relative to asimpler and less expensive mechanism which can perform the same functionwith a fewer number of parts as well as parts which require a minimumamount of machining.

The filling control mechanism of the present invention also receives itsdictates from a selective control unit and beingof simpler constructionwith fewer components relative to mechanisms of the prior art, itprovides an improved, positive and less expensive means for selectingand presenting a particular filling yarn to the means for its insertioninto a warp shed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The filling control mechanism according to thepresent invention is provided with a number of pivotable yarn positionerand guide levers that are selectively and individually movable betweenactive and inactive positions with each thereof being individual to aseparate source of filling yarn supply. Each of the levers is springbiased in the direction of its active position and by a selectivecontrol unit which holds them in their inactive position, they areselectively and individually released thereby permitting them to pivotto their active position in accordance with some desired and preselectedpattern.

The mechanism includes a number of superimposed springbiased plungermembers that are interconnected with the selective control unit witheach thereof being individual to and in direct contact with itsrespective yarn positioner and guide lever.

The mechanism further includes a vertically disposed reciprocating drivebar that is effective upon each of the yarn positioner and guide leversas they are selected to cause them to pivot with their respective yarnbetween first and second pick positions.

With the yarn positioner and guidelevers being superimposed, theirrespective yarns are also supported and guided in a like manner and itis necessary that a means be provided to lower the upper yarns to aposition where the filling yarn depressor will make contact with theseyarns so as to position them for pickup by the inserting carrier in amanner well known to those conversant with shuttleless weaving.

It is a general object of the invention to provide a filling controlmechanism in a shuttleless loom for presenting any one of a plurality offilling yarns to the yarn inserting carrier.

A further and more specific object of the invention is to provide animproved filling control mechanism for shuttleless looms of simplifiedconstruction, one that is relatively inexpensive to manufacture and tobe of lightweight construction with long life expectancy.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. I is a perspective view of aportion of a shuttleless loom showing the filling control mechanismaccording to the invention applied thereto;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the filling control mechanism shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a view in end elevation and partially in section taken alongline 3-3 of FIG. 2 showing the superimposed and spring-biased yarnpositioner and guide levers;

FIG. 4 is a view in side elevation of a portion of the mechanismaccording to the invention showing the spring biased plunger members andthe reciprocating drive bar for pivoting a selected yarn positioner andguide lever, and

FIG. 5 is a view in side elevation of a conventional filling yarndepressor having a camming rod fixed thereon for actuating the fillingyarn locating member.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to the drawing whereinonly as much of conventional shuttleless loom structure is depicted asis necessary to a complete understanding of the invention, there isshown in FIGS. 1 and 4 a filling control housing generally indicated bynumeral 10. This filling control housing is mounted in a well knownmanner on the upper right-hand side of the loom which positions it closeto the upper and forward end of the righthand loom-side a portion ofwhich is depicted in FIG. I by numeral Ill.

As is well known to those familiar with the type of shuttleless looms towhich the instant invention is applicable, a filling inserting carrierlll'(FlG. 5) is fixedly attached to the end of a flexible tape 12 whichmoves through a tape guide l3 (FIG. 1) and which is wrapped about andunwrapped from a tape wheel (not shown) to cause the carrier to beinserted into and withdrawn from sheds formed by warp threads I4.

A filling control cam shaft (FIG. 4) traverses the distance within thecontrol housing 10 and the ends thereof are journaled in suitablebearings not shown that are fixed to the sides of said control housing.

A so-called cutter cam I6 is fixed to rotate with the cam shaft I5 andby means of a follower 17 a spring-biased cutter rod 18 is caused toreciprocate to actuate a filling yarn cutter and clamping arrangement ofconventional construction that is depicted generally in FIG. 4 bynumeral 18'.

The cutter rod 18 is supported by a filling cutter bracket 19 (FIGS. 1and 4) which is fixedly attached to the side of the filling controlhousing by means of capscrews 20.

The inner end of the cutter rod 118 has fixed thereto a socalled secondpick positioner which is generally indicated in FIG. 4 by numeral 21'.This second pick positioner functions in a known manner and being ofconventional structure attention is hereby directed to US. Ser. No.633,183 to R.H. Brown, Jr. for a complete detailed description andillustration thereof.

The filling cutter bracket 19 is provided with a pair of spaced andintegrally formed lug elements 211 and 22 each having an opening alignedwith the other through which the cutter rod 18 extends and by which itis guided during its reciprocating movement. A coil spring 23 (FIGS. ll,2 and 4) assembles on the cutter rod 118 intermediate the lug elements21 and 22 and by means of a collar 24 said spring can be compressed toprovide the required biasing force to maintain the follower 17 incontact with the outer periphery of the cutter cam 16.

The end of lug element 22 terminates in an integrally formed andhorizontally disposed lip 25 (FIG. 3) which is adapted to fixedlyposition the lower end of a vertically disposed stud member 26.

In the case of the instant invention stud 26 supports for pivotalmovement four-yarn positioner and guide levers generally identified inFIGS. I and 3 by numerals 27, 28, 29 and 30. These levers aresuperimposed on stud 26 or, in other words, positioned one above theother and are maintained thereon by a nut 31 and washer 32.

Each of the yarn positioner and guide levers is separately pivotable andeach includes a hub portion on which a torsion spring assembles andwhich are identified by numerals 33, 34, 35 and 36.

A spring end retainer 37 also assembles on stud 26 immediately below thewasher 32 and is provided with a downwardly extending arm 38 (FIG. 1)that provides a means for attaching one end of the torsion springs 33,34, 35 and 36. The opposite ends of these springs are attached to theirrespective yarn positioner and guide lever and provides the means forcontinually urging the latter toward their active positions or in thedirection of the indicating arrow 39 shown in FIG. 2.

These yarn positioner and guide levers are of the doublearmed type andeach includes a relatively short actuating arm and a downwardlyextending yarn positioner arm. In FIG. 3 the actuating arms areidentified by numerals 40, 41, 42 and 43 and the yarn positioner arms bynumcrals44, 45, 46 and 47. The lower end of each arm is formed anddirected to terminate in close proximity with each of the terminusportions of the adjacent arms and yet are provided with sufficientclearance to permit the levers'to be pivoted individually on stud member26. The terminus portions of the yarn positioner arms 44, 45, 46 and 47have fixedly attached thereto horizontally disposed finger elements 48,49, 50 and 51, respectively (FIG. I) which all extend in the samegeneral direction and are positioned in close proximity one with theother. Adjacent the free end of each finger element an eyelet 52 isprovided and each eyelet serves as a means for guiding and controllingfilling yarn from separate sources of supply and which are individual toeach yarn positioner and guide lever.

On that side of the cutter bracket 19 opposite the integrally formed lugelement 22a generally U-shaped and upwardly extending plunger supportbracket 53 is attached by means of a pair ofcap screws 54 and 55 (FIGS.2 and 4). The leg portions of this plunger support bracket 53 aredirected toward the right-hand side of the loom as shown in FIG. 1 andeach includes four milled slots 56 (two only shown in FIG. 1) disposedin spaced and vertical alignment. The milled slots of one leg of thisbracket 53 are each in horizontal alignment with the milled slots of theother leg and each pair of aligned slots is adapted to support a springbiased plunger member for sliding movement therein. The plunger membersare identified in FIGS. 1 and 4 by numerals 57, 58, 59 and 60 and areretained within their respective slots 56 by means of rectangular stripmembers 61 which attach to the leg portions by means of screws 62. Theseplunger members are continually urged toward the front ofthe loom asshown by the directional arrow 63 in FIGS. 1 and 4 by means of separatecoil springs 64 individual to each of said members. One end of thesesprings is attached to a peg 65 provided on the upper surface of eachplunger member and the opposite ends thereof attach to integrally fonnedears 66 provided on the rearward edge of a stop plate 67 (FIGS. I and4). This stop plate 67 attaches to the forward most leg of the plungersupport bracket by means ofone of the strip members 61 and the screws 62therefor.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the forward most edge of the stop plate 67terminates in a laterally extending lip 68 which serves as a stop tolimit sliding movement of the plunger members in a forward direction.

Each of the plunger members 57, 58, 59 and 60 is provided on its lowersurface at a position intermediate its ends with an elongated recess 69(FIGS. 1 and 4) into which the actuating arms 40, 41, 42 and 43,respectively, are adapted to extend.

By a means yet to be described, the plunger members are held in arearward position which positions the recess 69 thereof in closeproximity with the rear leg portion of the support bracket 53. In thisposition, the actuating arms of the yarn positioner and guide levers arein contact with theforward edge of the recesses 69 of their respectiveplunger member and the yarn positioner arms of said levers are held intheir inactive position as shown at 70 in FIG. 2. When any one of theseplunger members is released its coil spring 64 slides it forwardly untilits forward end comes into contact with the lip 68 of the stop plate 67.When a plunger member is caused to slide forwardly contact between theforward edge of its recess 69 and the actuating arm of the yarnpositioner and guide lever individual thereto is lost. The biasing forceon the guide lever then swings the latter rearwardly and its actuatingarm is caused to make contact with a vertically disposed drive bar 71.This drive bar 71 is fixed to and caused to reciprocate with the cutterrod 18 and the combination of the motion of the drive bar and thebiasing force to which the guide lever is subjected is effective inswinging a selected yarn positioner and guide lever between first andsecond pick positions as depicted by numerals 72 and 73, respectively,in FIG. 2.

In FIGS. 1 and 4 the rearward ends of the plunger members 57, 58, 59 and60 are shown with pivotable linkage connectors 74, 75, 76 and 77,respectively, assembled thereon. These connectors provide a means ofconnecting each of the plunger members by Bowden Wire elements to anysuitable form of a selective control unit 78 diagrammatically shown inFIG. 1. The Bowden Wire elements are depicted in FIGS. 1 and 4 bynumerals 79, 80, 81 and 82 and in accordance with any desired patternthe dictates of the selective control unit 78 will individually effectsaid Bowden Wires to cause any one of the plunger members to be releasedand caused to slide to its forwardmost position.

In FIG. 1 four separate filling yarns are shown and identified by theletters and numerals Y-l, Y-2, Y-3 and Y-4. These filling yarns extendfrom independent sources of supply (not shown) through eyelets 83, 84,85 and 86, respectively, which are provided in a filling guide bracket87 that is mounted by means of a capscrew 88 to a friction plate supportstand 89. The yarns then extend through a conventional friction platearrangement generally indicated by numeral 90 which functions incooperation with the usual spring biased clamping member 91. From thefriction plate arrangement the filling yarns are separated by fourhorizontally disposed and vertically aligned guide pins 92, 93, 94 and95 that are supported in spaced relation by a screw 96 fixed in thefriction plate support stand 89. The yarns are then caused to extendthrough the eyelets 52 of their respective finger elements 48, 49, 50and 51 and thence to the second pick positioner 21' where they aresupported in a known manner.

In FIG. 5 a conventional filling yarn depressor 97 is shown and iscaused to move through its elliptical path by means of the camcontrolled linkage (not shown) which connects it with the fillingcontrol housing 10 all of which is well known to those familiar withshuttleless looms to which the invention is applicable.

The function of the depressor is to draw the filling yarn downwardly toa position where the filling inserting carrier 11' will pick up saidfilling and carry it into the warp shed. The present invention utilizesfour separate filling yarns and they being positioned one above theother it is necessary that an additional means be provided to move theupper yarns when selected to a position low enough to be acted upon bythe depressor 97. For this purpose a filling yarn locator generallyindicated in FIGS. I and 5 by numeral 98 is provided. This yarn locatorincludes a support bracket 99 the lower end of which is fixedly attachedto the tape guide 13 as at 100 (FIGS. land 5) by means ofa stud I01 andnut 102.

The upper end of the support bracket 99 terminates in a hub 103 whichsupports for oscillating movement a stud member 104. This stud memberextends outwardly from each side of the hub 103 and one side thereof isprovided with a yarn locator wire 105 extending therethrough in a planesubstantially normal to the axis of said stud. The opposite end of thestud member is provided with a collar 106 and a torsion spring 107disposed between said collar and hub 103. Spring 107 is arranged toapply a biasing force upon the stud member I04 so as to continually urgeit in a clockwise direction as viewed in FIGS. 1 and 5.

The rearward end of the yarn locator wire [05 terminates in a laterallyextending foot 108 (FIG. 1) and is adapted to be pushed upwardly by acamming rod 109 that is attached to the filling yarn depressor 97, as at109, each time said depressor swings upwardly during its function. Thismotion causes the forward end of wire 105 to swing downwardly and anyselected filling yarn in its path will be moved downwardly to a positionwhere it can be acted upon by the filling yarn depressor 97.

in operation the cutter rod 18 is continuously reciprocating and with itis moving the vertically disposed drive bar 71. The drive bar is actingupon the actuating arm of any one of the four yarn positioner and guidelevers so as to assist in its movement between first and second pickpositions.

In FIG. 1 the upper yarn positioner and guide lever 27 is shown inactive position and the other three 28, 29 and 30 in their inactiveposition. Upon selection of a different yarn the plunger memberindividual to the active feed lever is drawn rearwardly to the extentwhere its recess 69 will act upon said levers actuating ar'm so as topivot it to an inactive position. At this time another of the plungermembers is released and the yarn positioner and guide levers individualthereto automatically swing to active position and its actuating arm isthen acted upon by the drive bar 71.

The embodiments of the invention in which I claim an exclusive propertyor privilege are defined as follows:

1. in a shuttleless loom of the type wherein filling yarn is insertedindividually into separate sheds of warp threads in pairs ofinterconnected picks by means of reciprocating carrier means, a fillingcontrol mechanism for selectively presenting one of at least two yarnseach of which is fed from an independent source of supply whichcomprises a. a single yarn cutter and binder mechanism alternately andindividually effective upon each of said yarns,

b. yarn positioner means having at least two pivotable yarn positionerand guide levers with each being individual to a source of filling yarnsupply including a depressor member for moving the filling yarn to aposition for presenting it to said carrier means and a filling yarnlocating member effective upon certain ones of the selected yarns forpositioning the latter to be acted upon by said depressor member.

c. biasing means including individual torsion springs adapted to urgeeach of said yarn positioner and guide levers to their active position,and

d. control means including superimposed spring-biased plunger members,one for each of said yarn positioner and guide levers and effective inpivoting and holding the latter in their inactive positions in readinessfor release to active position upon indication for selection thereof.

2. The filling control mechanism according to claim 1 wherein saidfilling yarn locating member comprises a spring biased wire pivotablysupported intermediate its. ends and disposed in a plane substantiallynormal to the path of the filling yarn.

3. The filling control mechanism according to claim 4 wherein saiddepressor member includes a camming rod fixed on and movable with thedepressor through positions which alternately activate and thencedeactivate said filling yarn locating member. 7

4. The filling control mechanism wherein said mechanism includes acommon reciprocating drive bar for effectmg movement of a selected yarnpositioner and guide lever betweenfirst and second pick positions.

5. The filling control mechanism according to claim 1 wherein saidmechanism includes a control unit having individual linkage elementsinterconnected with each of said spring biased plunger members forselectively and individually releasing said yarn positioner and guidelevers to active position.

according to claim 1 ggggg UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OFCORRECTION Patent 3.593.754 Dated July 20, 192].

Inventor(s) ANTHONY J. TOSCHES It is certified that error appears in theabove-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are herebycorrected as shown below:

Column 6, line 26, change "claim 4" to read "claim 2".

signed and sealed this 25th day of April 1972.

(SEAL) Attost:

EDWARD I-LFLETCHER, JR. RUBEHT GOTTSCHALK Attesting Officer Commissionerof Patents

1. In a shuttleless loom of the type wherein filling yarn is insertedindividually into separate sheds of warp threads in pairs ofinterconnected picks by means of reciprocating carrier means, a fillingcontrol mechanism for selectively presenting one of at least two yarnseach of which is fed from an independent source of supply whichcomprises a. a single yarn cutter and binder mechanism alternately andindividually effective upon each of said yarns, b. yarn positioner meanshaving at least two pivotable yarn positioner anD guide levers with eachbeing individual to a source of filling yarn supply including adepressor member for moving the filling yarn to a position forpresenting it to said carrier means and a filling yarn locating membereffective upon certain ones of the selected yarns for positioning thelatter to be acted upon by said depressor member. c. biasing meansincluding individual torsion springs adapted to urge each of said yarnpositioner and guide levers to their active position, and d. controlmeans including superimposed spring-biased plunger members, one for eachof said yarn positioner and guide levers and effective in pivoting andholding the latter in their inactive positions in readiness for releaseto active position upon indication for selection thereof.
 2. The fillingcontrol mechanism according to claim 1 wherein said filling yarnlocating member comprises a spring biased wire pivotably supportedintermediate its ends and disposed in a plane substantially normal tothe path of the filling yarn.
 3. The filling control mechanism accordingto claim 4 wherein said depressor member includes a camming rod fixed onand movable with the depressor through positions which alternatelyactivate and thence deactivate said filling yarn locating member.
 4. Thefilling control mechanism according to claim 1 wherein said mechanismincludes a common reciprocating drive bar for effecting movement of aselected yarn positioner and guide lever between first and second pickpositions.
 5. The filling control mechanism according to claim 1 whereinsaid mechanism includes a control unit having individual linkageelements interconnected with each of said spring biased plunger membersfor selectively and individually releasing said yarn positioner andguide levers to active position.